Mobile fuel carrier or the like



April 10, 1951 l.. G. ARPlN. JR

MOBILE FUEL CARRIER OR THE LIKE Filed May 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. @n-n l ATTORNE Y April 10, 1951 L. G. ARPIN. .I R

MOBILE FUEL CARRIER oR TEE LIKE Filed May 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

TTOR/VE Y Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE MGBILE FUEL CARRIER 0R THE LIKEv Leon G. Arpn, Jr., Montclair, N. J.

Application May 29, 1948, Serial No. 30,031

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates `to liquid carriers such as fuel tanks which are mobile and adapted to be towed by a moving vehicle.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fuel tank which may be towed with a minimum of driving power particularly in the presence of ground obstructions. Allied with this object is the provision of such a tank which can be .caused to assume the shape of van obstruction which it encounters, as by being flexible or resilient, so that lits propulsion may be simply and easily ef fected under a wide range of terrain conditions.

The tank has many other advantages such as will appear hereinafter. The above and other advantages are secured kby forming the tank of flexible material and in cylindrical form so that the tank rolls bodily and wheels are unnecessary.

Referring to the drawing, wherein one form of the invention is disclosed:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of a liquid carrier constructed according to the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The tank comprises a body or reservoir I0 which is cylindrical in form so that the tank may `roll along on its periphery. End walls Il and I2 may be integral with such periphery so as to form an enclosed chamber or reservoir.

The tank is provided withA a central axle VI3 which does not rotate with the tank, the reservoir revolving thereabout pursuant to ground friction when the axle is pulled as during towing. In

order to provide driving power, a U-shaped towl ing hitch I4 is secured to the respective ends of axle I3. Towing hitch I4 is formed with an opening I5 which is adapted to receive a hook or the like which is connected to a driving vehicle. When such hook is inserted in opening I5,

u.towing hitch I4 propels the tank, the body Il) roll-ing along pursuant to such propelling forces. Inasmuch as it may be vdesirable to provide essarily, formed of corded and rubberized material such as that employed for the casings of automobile tires. However, any sturdy flexible and preferably resilient material may be employed, as will be hereinafter made clear. It is also contemplated that an inner membrane of soft rubber will line the complete interior of body I0 .so as to provide self-sealing functions such as are found in many aircraft fuel tanks.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the axle I3 is hollow and is provided with a short outlet `pipe 20. Secured to outlet pipe 20 is a flexible tube 2I which may be of the same rubberized material as that described above. In order to evacuate air from the tank as it is being charged or filled with liquid, a vertical riser pipe 22 communicates with the hollow of axle I3 and is 4outwardly directedso that the exit or entrance of air may be externally controlled.

In order to fill the tank with fuel or other liquid, a source thereof may be introduced through the end 23 of axle I3. A threaded closure nut 24 is provided to seal off such end 23 when not in use and, as noted in Fig. 1, a handoperated valve 25 may be provided so as to control the flow of liquid. When the tank is to be filled with liquid, nut 24 is removed and end 23 is connected to a source of fuelvsupply. Valve 25 is opened and threaded closure nut 26 of pipe 22 is likewise removed.

A contemplated method ofY filling the tank wit liquid is to remove the nut 24 and apply the liquid under pressure to the hollow of axle I3. Simultaneously, nut 26 at the external end 21 of lpipe 22 is removed so as to permit air to be vented from vthe tank. The liquid thereupon enters pipe 20 and flows through tube 2| into the bottom of the tank as at 28. The displaced air flows through riser pipe 22.

means for propelling a series of tanks, a hauling n hitch I6 is likewise secured at the `ends of axle I3. Hauling hitch IB is provided with a hook or the like at I1 so that it may be inserted into the opening I5 fof a second, vsucceeding mobile tank. In this manner, any reasonable number of tanks may be intersecured and propelled. Each hitch is provided with a half collar :I 8 which embraces the axle lends which are mutually secured by bolts I9 so that the htches arefixed to the axle, and form a frame for the body.

The tank body I0 is preferably., but not necl When the liquid is to be discharged as for the I purpose of re-filling the fuel tank of a vehicle,

air inlet nut 2E is opened as is valve 25. Air pressure is thenvapplied through pipe 22 so as to cause the liquid 28v to rise in the tube 2l and be discharged through axle end 23, nut 24 having Vbeen removed. In actual practice, means for providing air under pressure may be derived from the conventional compressor as found on many vehicles so that operation of the compressor serves to discharge the fuel as required. As will be hereinafter set forth, it is desirable, even when liquid is not being discharged, to maintain the tank under low pressure so as to assist in maintaining its cylindrical shape even during towage.

' move with the propelling vehicle.

The body is caused to rotate about the axle I3 through the medium of anti-friction bearings and 3| provided at the respective hub centers of the tank end walls. Bearing 30 is enclosed by annular housing 32 which is integral with annular end plate 33 which may be of steel or the like. Such end plate 33 is connected to end wall I and ring 34 as by bolts 35 radially arranged around plate 33. In order to maintain the apparatus well sealed, a packing gland comprising threaded collar 3B and a threaded nut 3l enclosing a brous or rubber gasket 38 is provided. Bearing 3| is enclosed by annular housing 4! which is integral with steel plate 4|, such plate 4| being disposed inside of the tank rather than outside as is plate 33. A ring 42 is connected to end wall |2 and plate 4| by a series of radially arranged bolts 43. A packing gland is provided which substantially duplicates that of the end wall Thus, collar 44 is threaded over axle I 3 as disclosed and nut 45 and gasket 46 complete the packing gland.

It will be evident from the above that as the external ends of the axle are pulled through the action of towing hitch I4 while the tank is resting on the ground, the body IG will revolve so as to Inasmuch as the hitch I4 does not revolve during such propulsion, the axle I3 is similarly maintained against revolving and the tube 2| will remain in the lower position shown during all times when the tank is being propelled. As obstructions such as rocks are encountered, the periphery of the body will give way so as to adapt the shape of the tank to the obstruction. In order to effect such action, Ihe end walls l and |2 may buckle or become distorted pursuant to the inherent resiliency of the body material. Tube 2| being likewise of flexible and resilient material, will not punch holes or do any like damage to the interior of the tank when obstacles are encountered, since it will likewise buckle at this time.

It will be evident that when the tank is filled with liquid and propelled, it has a large bearing `surface regardless of whether the ground is smooth or rocky or the like.v Furthermore, such bearing surface is of particular advantage when the tank is pulled over soft or snowy terrain.

It will be observed that the diameter of the annular plate 4I is less than that of plate 33 and that the central opening of end wall 2 is likewise smaller than the central opening of end wall |I. The purpose thereof is to permit the axle, bearing and plates to be produced 'as a subassembly and introduced through the larger central opening 0f end wall II whereupon the plates may be made fast to the end walls as above described.

It is contemplated that when the tank is being propelled, an air pressure of approximately- 2 pounds may be maintained within the body It so as to help preserve its cylindrical shape or form during such propulsion. As much of such air pressure as is warranted according to anticipated terrain conditions may be provided.

Whereas the method of discharging the fuel has been described as providing air pressure through air inlet end 21, it is feasible, particularly in emergencies, to open valve 25 so that the liquid reach the periphery of body Ill. Such intermediate walls would be fabricated 0f the rubberized material described above and would serve the pur- 4 pose of further maintaining the cylindrical form of the tank even when it is towed at very high speeds.

Having described one form of the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A mobile reservoir tank for fluids comprising a hollow, flexible body of normally cylindrical form, said body being substantially fabricated from resilient material so as to resume said cylindrical form when distored, and a hollow axle extending along the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said hollow axle communicating with the interior of said body so as to provide fluid inlet and outlet means therefor.

2. A mobile reservoir tank for fluids comprising a hollow, flexible body of normally cylindrical form, said body being substantially fabricated from resilient material so as to resume said cylindrical form when distored, and a hollow axle extending along the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said hollow axle being formed with an outlet within said body and an elongated resilient tube extending from said outlet to a point adjacent the inner periphery of said body.

3. A mobile reservoir tank for fluids comprising a hollow, flexible body of normally cylindrical form, said body being substantially fabricated from resilient material so as to resume said cylindrical form when distorted, and a hollow axle extending along the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said hollow axle being formed with an outlet within said body and an elongated resilient tube extending from said outlet to a point adjacent the inner periphery of said body, said hollow axle extending externally of said body so as to serve as trunnion means at each end thereof, said body being rotatable relative to said axle whereby a propelling force on said trunnion means while said body is resting on a support, causes said body to rotate pursuant to friction against said support.

4. A device according to claim 3 and including anti-friction bearings adjacent each end of said axle whereby said body may be rotated relative to said axle.

5. A mobile reservoir tank for fluids comprising a hollow, flexible body of normally cylindrical form, said body being substantially fabricated from resilient material so as to resume said cylindrical form when distorted, and a hollow axle extending along the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said hollow axle being formed with an outlet within said body and an elongated resilient tube extending from said outlet to a point adjacent the inner periphery of said body, said hollow axle extending externally of said body so as to serve as trunnion means at each end thereof, said body being rotatable relative to said axle whereby a propelling force on said trunnion means while said body is resting on a support, causes saidbody to rotate pursuant to friction against said support, and a U-shaped towing hitch having the free ends thereof respectively connected to trunnion means at each axle end.

6. A device according to claim 5 and including a U-shaped hauling hitch having the free ends thereof respectively connected to the trunnion means at each axle end, said hitches being oppositely disposed so as to mutually form a frame around said body.

'7. A mobile reservoir tank for fluids comprising a hollow, flexible body vof normallyy cylindrical form, said body being substantially fabricated from resilient material so as to resume said cylindrical form when distorted, and a hollow axle extending along the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said hollow axle being formed with an outlet Within said body and an elongated resilient tube extending from said outlet to a point adiacent the inner periphery of -said body, said hollow axle extending externally of said body so as to serve as trunnion means at each end thereof, said body being rotatable relative to said axle whereby a propelling force on said trunnion means While said body is resting on a support, causes said body to rotate pursuant to friction against said support, said body being fillable with uid from one external extension of said hollow axle and an air pipe rising from said axle and operative to pass air as the body is being lled or emptied.

8. A mobile reservoir tank for fluids comprising a hollow, exible body of normally cylindrical form, and including end Walls so as to form an enclosed cylinder, said body being fabricated from resilient material and tending to resume its cylindrical form when distorted, a hollow axle extending transversely through said cylinder from one end wall to the other and further extending past both end walls, metal plates secured to the central area of each end Wall, said' axle traversing said metal plates, anti-friction bearings between each end lof the axle and the respective metal plate, said plates cover openings being formed in the respective end walls, and one of said plates being larger than the other so that the smaller plate may be inserted through the opening of one end wall and secured to the other end Wall.

LEON G. ARPIN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

